A U.S. Post Office the New Deal’s Public Works Administration (PWA) constructed in Brevard, N.C. in 1940 has been renovated and repurposed for the community.
“We also decided to approach this project in a way that honors the different lives this building has already had and its context within the history of the county,” said Mike Hawkins, Chairman of the Transylvania County Commissioners.
If the post office at 101 South Broad were a person, it would deserve a medal for public service. It was the county library for more than two decades and voting place after that.
County Architect Richard Worley oversaw the renovation and was able to repurpose and recycle many of the building’s original materials to help keep costs in check. The original slate floor was refinished and marble from the post office counter was refashioned into desk surfaces.
The Federal/Greek Revival-style building’s crowning touch is an underutilized feature from its earliest days: a white cupola atop the roof. Inside, a light has been installed, a reminder to anyone who drives by at night that a once empty county building has been returned to the service of its citizens.
Vintage photography and exhibits in the public areas showcase the building’s history while modern updates ensure that the county’s administrative needs will be met well into the 21st century. Other thoughtful touches include a new public space behind the building: in essence, a mini-arboretum designed to reflect the nature of the county. The space is landscaped with indigenous plants and trees and will have a water feature that celebrates the “Land of Waterfalls.”
“We thought the green space was important,” said Hawkins, “It reflects who we are as a county and I think it’s something everyone will be proud of.”